(Ecofin Agency) - In Burkina Faso, bread and pastry makers will go on strike from June 9 to 12, 2016. According to their national federation, the move aims for the provision of better working conditions.

Among the workers’ claims, there is the respect of syndical freedom and the signing, by all bakeries’ owners, of a collective convention adopted by all of the sector’s actors. Due to absence of this agreement, “working conditions are extremely harsh and workers are exploited”, said Konomba Traoré, secretary general of Burkina’s federation of bakers and pastry cooks.

The organization, which denounced the abusive firing of 176 workers, also said that on June 10 its members will march toward the ministry of public function, work and social protection.

Backing the move initiated by Burkina’s bread and pastry makers for their demand to be met, Konomba Traoré said: “this is matter of death and life. For a baker who makes bread for others to not even be able to make a living out of it, who does not eat to satisfaction. We will fight until our demand is met”

Aaron Akinocho